Vacuum cleaner



A. C. TEVES VACUUM CLEANER Oct. 23, 192s-. 1,689,089

File July s, 1923 a Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY- W INVENTOR i A. C. TEVESVACUUM CLEANER Oct. 23, 1928,

Filed July 3, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L TTORNEY,

Oct. 23, 1928. 1,689,089

A. c. TEVES VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2% v 2] WINVENTOR L; ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 23, 1 928. I

' PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED C. TEVES, 0F RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK.

vacuum CLEANER.

Application filed July 3,

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly tocleaners of this type in which the action of the subatmospheric ressureat the suction nozzle is supplemented y the bristles of a brush.

At the present time three types of comb ned suction and brush vacuumcleaners are in general use. In one of these types the bristles arearranged in parallel, substantially straight lines forwardly andrearwardly of the suction nozzle, extending to below the base of thenozzle a fixed distance so as to be constantly engaged with uniformpressure with the surface to be cleaned. In another type a rotary brushdriven from the motor is mounted within the nozzle, this brush being soset as to have bristles project below the nozzle to a fixed extent. Inthis type the brush is drivenby the motor at high speed. In the thirdtype a rotary brush is mounted in the nozzle as in the second type abovereferred to, and is rotated through the medium of traction wheelsserving to support the forward portion of the cleaner adjacent thenozzle, and a belt and pulley construction connccting the shaft of saidtraction wheels with the brush. In this type, as in the second typeabove referred to, the bristles of the brush extend to a fixed extentbeyond the nozzle and constantly engage the surface to be cleaned withuniform pressure.

In the combined suction and brush type of vacuum cleaners, the bristlesof the brush are used for displacing threads, small particles of paperand other small articles which have a tendency to cohere with the nap ofa carpet with suflicient tenacity to resist the action of the suction atthe nozzle, the bristles of the brush, however, serving to displacesuch'articles so as to loosen them in relation to the carpet and bringthem within the effective range of the suction and cause them to beremoved to the dust receiving bag, or be conveyed from the surface beingcleaned as a result of the suction at the nozzle of the cleaner. Suchbrushes have proven highly effective in use, but have been subject tothe criticism that they operate constantly and to the same extent uponall surfaces being cleaned, whether or not the con- 1923. Serial No.649,192.

dition of the surface is utilization of the brushes in order to removeheavierarticles, or articles cohering to the nap of the carpet, and-thuscausing unnecessary wear upon the carpet. In fact with power' drivenbrushes, the action of the bristles of the brush and their relation tothe nozzle is such that if through inadvertence the cleaner be allowedto remain stationary for any considerable time while power is beingapplied thereto, the nap of the carpet will be removed to an extent toprove injurious to the carpet.

With the above conditions in mind, the obect of my invention is toprovide a vacuum cleaner 0f the brush type wherein the bristles of thebrush under normal conditions may either be maintained out of engagingrelation with the carpet being cleaned, or have such light engagementtherewith as to not be operative to an extent to materially modify theaction of the suction, but which bristles, when it is desired to loosenor displace objects which resist the action of the suction at thenozzle, may be brought into the desired pressure exerting relation tothe carpet or other surface being cleaned, to be momentarily eflectivefor displacing such objects.

The construction and arrangement of a cleaner embodying my invention issuch that the desired pressure engaging relation between the bristles ofthe brush and the surface being cleaned, will result from theinstinctive such as to require tendency of the housewife to exertgreater pressure upon the handle of the cleaner when it is seen that amore thorough cleaning action is required than is normally the case,this construction at the same time being such that immediatel when thepressure against the handle is re eased, the bristles of the brush Willautomatically assume their normal position out of, or in only light,engaging relation withlthe surface of the carpet or othcrmateria ofvacuum cleaners in which the bristles of the brush'are arrangedforwardly and rear- Wardly of the nozzle, and have no movement excepttravel coincident with the movements My invention is equally applicableto types of thta cleaner itself, and in which rotar brushes are mountedwithin the nozzle itsel whether the same be motor driven or driven fromtraction wheels, the essential characteristics and operative effectbeing the same 11'- respective of the type of brush used, or to themethod of imparting movement thereto, the adaptation of the invention tothese different types requiring merely changes 1n the structure of thehead of the vacuum cleaner ad acent the nozzle b reason of varyingstructural conditions 1n these different types of heads.

The invention consists primarily 1n a vacuum cleaner embodying the-reina casing, suction creating means therein, a nozzle communicatintherewith and normally positioned above t e surface to be cleaned, ahandle attached to said casing, a roller support for said casingrearwardly of said handle, oscillatory frame means pivotally sup-portedon said casing with the front portion thereof adjacent said nozzle andthe rear portion thereofadj acent said handle, a brush carried by thefront portion of said frame means, a roller carried by the rear portionof said frame means,

and a spring acting normally toraise the front portion of said framemeans carrying said brush and cause said rollers to support the cleaneradjacent said nozzle, whereby the bristles of said brush are normallyheld away from said surface and increased pressure applied through saidhandle Will impart movement to said oscillatory frame means to ensure adesired pressure engagement of the bristles of said brush with saidsurface; and in such other novel features of construct-ion andcombination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. I is a side view of a vacuum cleaner embodying one embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side View of a different embodiment of the invention, withportions thereof adjacent the nozzle shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof adjacent one endof the suctionnozzle;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of still another embodiment of the invention,with a portion of the casing adjacent the nozzle shown in section; and

Fig. 6 is a view of still another embodiment with a portion of thecasing adjacent the nozzle and the suction creating device broken away.I

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

' In the embodiments of my invention shown in the various views of thedrawings, I have illustrated it as applied to different well known formsof vacuum cleaners in each of which 0 indicates an electric motor foractuating a suction creatin device I), the casing of which has a forwary and downwardly presented suction nozzle 0. The discharge ofsaid'casing communicates with the usual dust bag d. The main load of themotor a, fan or suction creating device 6, and nozzle c, is supported bya wheel 6. s

The nozzle 0 is reciprocated with relation to the car et or othersurface, through the medium 0 a handle 7 of the usual form.

The mechanisms heretofore described are all old and well known'in thisart, and may take a wide diversity of different forms, my inventionrelating more particularly to the combination with the essential partsof vacuum cleaners having the above characteristics, of a particularbrush construction cooperating with the nozzle 0 for loosening dirt,threads, or other similar articles which may cohere to the nap of thecarpet, so that the suction at said nozzle will be effective in removingthem to the dust bag (1.

This brush, while varying in its details of construction, and in itsrelation to .the nozzle, has the characteristic common to allembodiments of the inventionshown, of being so supported that undernormal conditions the bristles thereof will either just escape contactwith the nap ofthe carpet, or come only into light engagement therewith,so as to be inoperative in a large measure when the suction at thenozzle will ordinarily raise dust and other matter from the carpet orother surface, but which may be brought into a desired pressureengagement with said surface .so as Ill to effectively disturb or loosensuch matter lifted to its normal position where it is practicallyinoperative with relation to said surface without requiring the changeof any adju'stments in the machine.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and i 2 of the drawings, I haveillustrated the invention as applied to a type of vacuum cleaner inwhich a brush 9 is used, which has parallel rows of bristles positionedone forwardly, and the other rearwardly, of the nozzle 0 and extendingsubstantially for the full length of this nozzle. The bristles 'of thebrush 9 are carried by a frame h which is pivoted by means of the shaft2' and lugs 11' rearwardly of the nozzle 0.

Mounted between the nozzle 0 and the suction creating device 6 insuitable bearin s in saidframe, is a shaft 7' carrying rollers c.

Acting upon the frame It is a spring m havmg a normal tendency to forcethe traction rollers Ir: downwardly, thus oscillating the frame it aboutits point of pivotal support, to to slightly elevate the portion of saidframe carrying the brush g, the upward movement of said frame adjacentsaid brush being limited by a stop or stops n. While the spring m isshown as acting directly against the shaft 7', it is apparent that thenormal ele vation of the brush gmay be secured by the application of thelift of said spring to said brush in any other desired manner thanthrough said shaft.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thebrush is shown as being a rotary, power driven brush 9, the oppositeends of which are mounted in oscillatory frames 7b., one positioned oneach side of the nozzle. In this form of the invention, each frame has aroller lc connected by a belt 0 to the pulley 0 upon the shaft 0 of saidbrush 9'. The shafts of said rollers is are acted upon springs m withthe same operative effect as to the brush, as described in connectionwith the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

To prevent a material loss of the effective suction at the nozzle, andat the same time protect the frames h and their appurtenances frompossible injury, I provide an extension 0 at one side of the nozzle 0communicating therewith only through a segmental slot indicated at 0which slot, if desired, may be closed by means of the plate or washer 0carried by and movable. with the shaft 0 of the brush g. The constantengagement of the rollers 70 and the surface being cleaned, will resultin the rotation of the brush in accordance with, and as a result of, thereciprocatory movement of the cleaner in its entirety. In this fonn ofthe invention, the shafts upon which the frame 71. oscillate, areindicated at 2' and the axle for the traction wheels is, at 9'.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 the construction ispractically the same as that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with the exceptionthat the rollers k corresponding with the wheel it, serve merely asrollers and not as a source of power for rotating the brush, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. A different form of spring m differently applied, is alsoused in this form of the invention, a coiled spring being employed,which acts upon the pivotal frame 72. ad acent the brush, instead ofadjacent the traction wheel 70 In this form of the invention, the brushis driven from the motor a by a pulley upon an extension of the shaft ofthe fan or other suction device I) acting directly on the brush througha belt. This construction is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5.Reference letters are not applied to these parts, as the specific meansfor applying power for rotating the fan used, forms no part of thepresent invention. In this form of the invention the frame is indicatedat h, the point of pivotal support of the frame at 2' the shaft of thetraction wheel 70 at 9' the shaft for the brush 9 at 0 and the extensionor housing at each side of the nozzle at 0'. I

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the construction ofthe brush and its appurtenances are the same as shown in Fig. 5, and arehence indicated by corresponding reference letters. This form of theinvention differs from the form shown in Fig. 5 merely in the detailedarrangement of the motor a, the fan or other suction device I) and theresultant change of the application of power from said motor to therotating brush 9.

' In the forms of the invention shown in both Figs. 5 and 6, each frameIf is mounted in an extension 0 corresponding in construction andarrangement with the extensions 0 shown in Figs. 3 ande, and the samesegmental slots, and closure plates or washers 0 and o are employed forthe same purpose, being indicated, however, only in dotted lines inthese figures.

I The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially asfollows Under normal conditions the brush g, g or 9 will, while thecleaner is in use, have, at the most, only a light sweeping engagementwith the nap of the carpet or other surface being cleaned, so as to havelittle or no tendencytoward the removal of the nap, or a material wearthereof.

Since the suction nozzle 0 will be effective to remove all dust, dirt,or other matter which does not cohere, to the surface being cleanedsufliciently to resist lifting power of this suction, the action of thebristles is not required under normal conditions.

The conditions above specified, that is the substantially inoperative,or only slightly operative, relation of the bristles of the brush to thesurface being cleaned, results from the oscillation of the framecarrying the brush by the spring acting thereon, or by the use of anequivalent construction having a nor mal tendency to engage the rollers7.:7c 7s carried by said frame, with the surface being cleaned.

When, however, it is found that the action at the nozzle'c alone, or thesuction nozzle and the action of the brush, under normal conditions willnot suffice to remove threads, particles of dirt or other substancesfrom the nap of the carpet or other surface, the housewife willinstinctively apply greater pressure downwardly of the handle 7", whichdownward pressure will have the effect of increas- I tional pressureexerted through the handle,

the rollers will, through their tendency to move downwardly, im art areturn oscillatory movement to the rame with a resultant elevation ofthe brush to its substantially inoperative, or slightly operative,normal position.

While the oscillation of the brush and roller oscillatory frame, may inits operation result in movement of the nozzle toward and from thesurface being cleaned, the leverage of this frame is such that the brushwill have relativel much greater movement than the nozzle, t e maximummovement of the brush being but a fraction of an inch, even when wearhas occurred upon the bristles. This movement of the nozzle, however,would probably not be sufiicientl great to have any appreciablemodifying e ect of the suction applied about same, but if there were anysuch effect, it would be to bring the nozzle into close relation to thesurface being cleaned, while the brush'was active, which would be anadvantageous result. ThlS. condition 'probably exists to a certainextent in the cleaner embodying my invention. i.

In the form of the invention shown In Figs.

1 and 2, the use of parallel rows of bristles in the brush, will resultin the row positioned rearwardly of the nozzle throwing the looseneddust or other material toward or below the nozzle upon the forwardmovement of the cleaner, the forward row of bristles having the sameeffect uponthe return or rearward movement of the cleaner.

Where a rotary brush is used, as in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings, theoperative conditions will be as above described, with the exception thatthe brush always acts within the nozzle, in said figures. The sideextensions 0' in the forms of the invention shown, are employed so as toconceal and protect the oscillatory frames, since the length of thelever arms of such frames and the width of the frames, would precludetheir being brought within the nozzle in their entirety. These sideextensions would also permit a better control, or less likelihood of aloss, of the efi'ectii e suction. at the nozzle.

I believe it to be broadly new to employ in a vacuum cleaner, a brushmounted upon an oscillatory frame, which frame is acted upon by meanshaving a normal tendency to support the brush in the desired relation tothe suction nozzle and the surface being cleaned, whereby an operativerelation of the bristles of the brush to the surface being cleaned maybe controlled b the varying pressure exerted upon the hand e.

It is apparent that when a power driven brush is used, even if throughneglect the cleaner is allowed to remain in one spot withoutinterrupting the power to the motor a, no wear will occur upon the nap"of the carpct as a result of the continued action of the rlst-les of thebrush thereon, and yet while in use said brush may at any time, and infact will almost automatically, be brought into the desiredpressure-engagement with the surface wheneve r the conditions of saidsurface re uire.

t is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent thatsuch may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope oftheinvention as described in the following claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is

'1 A vacuum cleaner embodying therein a casing, suction creating meanstherein, a nozzle communicatin therewith and normally positioned above te surface to be. cleaned,

a handle attached to said casing, a roller support for said casingrearwardly of said handle, oscillatory frame means pivotally supportedon said nozzle with the front portion thereof adjacent said nozzle, andthe rear portion thereof adj aoent said handle, a brush carried by thefront "portion of said frame means. rollers carried b the rear portionof said frame means, an a spring acting normally to raise the portion ofsaid frame means carrying said brush and cause said rollers to sup ortthe cleaner adjacent said nozzle, wherey the bristles of said brush arenormally held awayfrom said surface, and increasedpressure appliedthrough said handle will impart movement to said oscillatory frame meansto ensure a desired pressure engagement of the bristles of said brushwith said surface. i

2. A vacuum cleaner embodying therein a casing, suction creating meanstherein, a nozzle'communicating therewith and normally positioned abovethe surface to be cleaned, a handle attached to said casing, a rollersupport for said casing rearwardly of said handle, an oscillatory framepivotally supported on said nozzle with the forward portion thereofinclosing said nozzle, and the rear portion thereof adjacent saidhandle, brushes consisting of parallel rows of bristles carried by theforward portion of said frame and arranged respectively forwardly andrearwardly of said nozzle, rollers carried by the end of said frameadjacent said handle, and sure applied through saidhandle will.'im-. aspring acting normally to raise the forpart movement to said frame toensure a deward portion of said frame carrying said sired pressureengagement of the bristles f 10 brushes and cause said rollers tosupport/the said brushes with said surface.

5 cleaner adjacent said nozzle, whereby the In witness whereof Ihavehereuntoaflixed bristles of said brushes are normally held my signaturethis 30th da of June, 1-923. away from said surface, and increased pres-ALFR D C. TEVES.

